Influence
Influence is defined as
the capacity to have an effect on the character, development, or behaviour of someone or something, or the effect itself.
This week this has been a topic of discussion. So you have set your wellbeing goal, you know what your current reality is and your future vision. You have a plan on how you are going to get there. And then the bad weather sets in and your plans are blown away with the wind. You resort to Netflix and hot chocolate. A few days later the weather changes and you are energised and back on track.
One insightful 2008 study found that good weather has a greater effect on boosting a person's negative mood than on a positive one, with negative moods being improved on days where the weather was good, but with no effect on people who were already feeling positive.
So what is really happening here? It is not only the weather that influences our decisions. The findings of a study on exercise habits and support give us more insight.
Exercise habits of close others are associated with one's own exercise habits, though this relationship may vary depending on perceived support. Attention should be paid to women's exercise habits, since they are less likely to exercise than men. Future studies should also investigate how other factors such as self-efficacy and attitudes toward exercise interact with perceived support and perceived exercise by close others to impact own exercise.
Social support is important for engaging in health behaviors. Are you part of a tribe that encourages your participation?